The Maiden King

From Robert Bly, author of the groundbreaking bestseller Iron John, and famed Jungian analyst Marion Woodman comes an interpretation of a primordial folktale that takes the message behind Iron John to its next phase: the reunion of masculine and feminine. Bly and Woodman interpret the archetypal symbols embedded in an ancient Russian story, The Maiden King, a tale woven of an absent father, a possessive stepmother, a false tutor, and a young man over-whelmed by a beautiful maiden. When the young man's weak response to the maiden ss her retreating in anger, he must go on a quest for self-discovery that leads to Baba Yaga, the fierce yet empowering old woman of Russian folk tradition. The male tency toward impotence in the face of feminine magnificence, the female fear of power and abandonment that leads to rage, the need to get beyond oppositional thinking en route to the Divine, these are issues the book addresses with wisdom and lyricism. The true heir to Iron John, The Maiden King may be the intellectual answer to Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus.

This text guides the reader through the ancient Russian folktale to explore the possibility of a new relationship between masculine and feminine, presenting a map of the sorrow both men and women feel today in relation to each other.

The author of Iron John, together with an eminent psychotherapist, reunite the Masculine and the Feminine. Robert Bly and Marion Woodman interpret the deep psychological insights imbedded in ancient stories, in this instance a Russian folktale about bringing feminine energy back into the world. The Maiden King tells of an absent father, a possessive stepmother, a false tutor, and a young man overwhelmed by a beautiful maiden and her thirty sisters, sailing toward him on thirty boats. His weak response ss her retreating in anger, and to find her once again he must go on a quest that leads to Baba Yaga, the fierce old woman of Russian folk tradition who represents not life in service of death, but death in service of life. The male tency to go to sleep in the face of feminine magnificence, female fear of power and of abandonment that leads to rage, the need to get beyond oppositional thinking en route to the Divine--these are issues the book addresses with wisdom and lyrical beauty. The true heir to Iron John, Bly's number-one national best-seller about men, The Maiden King speaks eloquently to readers of Clarissa Pinkola Estes, James Hillman, and Deborah Tannen.

The New York Times bestselling author of The Mulberry Tree weaves a dazzling historical romance about two royal enemies who cannot fight the passion between them. He was wise, strong, and brave. His destiny was to be king. She was young and beautiful, a warrior princess. Her destiny was to love him. But when first they met, it was not as princess and king—it was as man and woman only, consumed by a passion so sudden, so deep that the very world exploded with one kiss. Only later, with his touch still burning on her lips, did Jura discover that the knight of her secret tryst had been none other than the hated Prince Rowan. Rowan, who had returned from far-away England to usurp her brother’s throne...Rowan, who vowed to unite the wild clans under his rule. Furious, Jura swore her enmity to the golden-haired prince whose glorious visage tormented her days and haunted her nights. But nothing would stop Rowan from ruling over the warring tribes...and nothing would stop him from winning the fierce and lovely Jura as his bride, his Queen, his love....

In the tradition of Annie Dillard and Natalie Goldberg, this resource for writers and non-writers alike shows the act of writing to be a dynamic means of knowing, healing, and creating the body, mind, and spirit.

In this first part of a trilogy inspired by great Scottish legends, Alainna MacLaren is the last hope of her Highland clan. To save her people, she must wed a man willing to adopt her name. A knight agrees to help her, but has no intention of forsaking his name to marry her.

FROM THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WAR LORD COMES AN EPIC RETELLING OF THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND 'THE BEST King Arthur adaptation I've ever read' 5***** Reader Review 'An absolute winner from the master of historical fiction' 5***** Reader Review 'Outstanding. The best take on the iconic Arthur story I've read or watched' 5***** Reader Review In the Dark Ages, a legendary warrior arises to unite a divided land . . . _________ Uther, the High King of Britain, is dead. His only heir is the infant Mordred. Yet each of the country's lesser kings seek to claim the crown for themselves. While they squabble and spoil for war, a host of Saxon armies gather, preparing for invasion. But no one has counted on the fearsome warlord Arthur. Handed power by Merlin and pursuing a doomed romance with the beautiful Guinevere, Arthur knows he will struggle to unite the country - let alone hold back the Saxon enemy at the gates. Yet destiny awaits him . . . From the epic and bestselling author who has gripped millions. _________ PRAISE FOR BERNARD CORNWELL: 'Strong narrative, vigourous action and striking characterisation, Cornwell remains king of the territory he has staked out as his own' SUNDAY TIMES 'Like Game of Thrones, but real' OBSERVER 'Blood, divided loyalties and thundering battles' THE TIMES 'The best battle scenes of any writer I've ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive' GEORGE R.R. MARTIN 'He's called a master storyteller. Really he's cleverer than that' TELEGRAPH 'A reminder of just how good a writer he is' SUNDAY TIMES 'Nobody in the world does this better than Cornwell' LEE CHILD